NEWCASTLE (Page 1 of 2)

MORECAMBE

It struck me while at the Morecambe show , Thought for a change I’ll sit this one out and retire to the raised seated area at the back of The Dome , and take it all in as a Neutral would , it felt strange ,there was say 700/800 in Packed Attendance and there was a movin’ buzz around , people trying to view the stage and get close to what they had heard about this New Guitar sensation of The 21st Century, the lights dimmed at around 8:30  and the intro began and Joe Crashed the opening chords of Bridge
So motionless I sat and watched The Joe Bonamassa Show in full swing , didn’t talk to no-one , didn’t smile
Just intensely viewed the workings and the arrangement between the 4 musicians
( and the conclusions follow )

Joe is The Perfect Rough Cut Diamond , Pure with Hard Edges , Polished but Raw , The Songs one after another are clean and Delivered with Pristine Precision ….. Watching the Rhythm engine Bogie Carmine Rick
It is in Faultless Harmony but still has that intense power which then can drop into the slow laid back Jazz Fusion of “Don’t Burn Down That Bridge”

I Travel , I see the guys perform , I want to express my thoughts and feelings , and I know I’m not alone in saying  , The continual increasing numbers at these shows are solid evidence that Live music has never been this good in Decades , and only the likes of say ( Sinatra , Elvis , The Beatles ,   Jimi Hendrix ,
Led Zeppelin , Lynyrd Skynrd , and Stevie Ray Vaughan , can you watch a live Genius with which audiences are mesmerised like the pre-said artists ( you know you are witnessing just that ) …. Up there is a new performing Singing Guitar playing virtuoso with growing skills , who does not know how far his inner gift will take him , Joe will keep pushing , you can see that in his Live Performance , and it is a Joy to watch the Genius unfold and Intensify

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NEWCASTLE

BRIDGE TO BETTER DAYS

The opening chunky funky slices of  Rock start you smiling’  movin’ and dancing’ right away , there are pace changes a plenty with such smooth transition you instantly are drawn into their clasp , with Joe in Full command , His Guitaring and Voice are assured and know this is gonna be good , and you suddenly feel the power of the whole band in Unison “Stating with their sound HE WE ARE”
Whoooa ..tis a Very Strong Opening Aural Introduction

WALK IN MY SHADOWS

Blues .. That is what we want , and that is what we get … Shuffle/Boogie So Damn Tight it’s Infectious with Carmine laying down a boogie stompin’ bass line and Bogie just making the rhythm dance and Rick dropping in slabs of  keyboards for our delight …. It is a Groove in Blues Heaven with Joe Letting us have a Needle sharp solo with Growling Gravel voice … the audience join in …. and we are in the party mood
Ooooh Yeaaaah

SO MANY ROADS

A Smouldering Blues Anthem , gently telling the story of a lost man looking for his love
Then mid way through it picks up and builds into a creshendo of Glorious guitar Mastery, that is so defining
It’s Soul Stealing , Joe up front giving it his all and twisting every last note playable out of His Gibson .
And it’s like at the end ,he has conquered just that … it is of the highest decree …. And Breathtaking to watch

MOUNTAIN TIME

With it’s Beautiful Indian Sitar sounding  Intro … it goes in and grabs your inner soul immediately and takes control of your senses , with the colours of Joe’s Red and Gold Gigliotti Guitar you are drawn by the mysterious sound , your caught in a spell binding journey with Joe up to Mountain Time , it’s Beautiful in it’s Arrangement , the lyrics , the tune , it Hauntingly is in Control of your senses and Joe plays out a Meandering journey of music and the crowd stand in silent awe ………… Outstanding

ANOTHER KIND OF LOVE

Joe ups the tempo again , al 4 are rockin’ along with this lively Blues/Rocker , Rick drops a keyboard solo so sweet your jiving’ and movin’ again with Joe cutting loose a Quick Solo to finish off …. It’s sublime stuff

SLOE GIN

The light airy keyboards flow in to introduce this tale of fight with the bottle, it is yet another haunting arrangement of stature , you just stand and admire as it builds and soars away in your senses.
It is Clarity in sound and presentation and the guitar solo that follows is one of the highlights of the evening Joe can sing soulful and is evident here in detail ……., and oh so powerful finish to an epic song

BALL PEEN HAMMER

The opening track of Joe’s Sloe Gin CD , Strummed along with 12 string precision  , the singing is powerful and direct over the tune on this live version  , it builds gently , a marvellous rendition here with a great acoustic stomp , and the strings reverb out with the other 3 members chugging along behind in unison
Wonderful tune

DON’T BURN DOWN THAT BRIDGE

The guys drop into a slow Jazz burner ,with this one such a smooth mellow feel .. Slow slow vibe
Then Joe let’s out a clinical solo , so clear note for note perfect , it’s a lovely pace change and makes you listen for that purpose , the guitar sound and delivery on this live slice is probably the most clearest of the evening ….. Awesome

WOKE UP DREAMING

Joe’s virtuoso spot , I’ve said this before and many people too , but you cant help admire the intense skill on show here and the rollercoaster ride Joe delivers on Acoustic guitar it Quite Breathtaking every time with different nuances and runs at pace ….. An amazing piece of Live Music and always worthy highlight of a Bonamassa show ….. There is no other artist out there who indeed is playing such a live varied Rock/Blues Set … so in that department Joe is Unique & King

DJANGO

A Beautiful performance of this instrumental , sweeping chords and soloing , another overwhelming tune taking you away on some sort of higher plain with layers and layers of sound … which Brilliantly drifts into
The ever so Powerful

JUST GOT PAID

Jumps off the stage and grabs you and pulls you along for the ride , it’s rocking / boogie blues in the truest vein , Smouldering and Attacking you from all angles with Carmine laying down this thunderous bass line , it rumbles along shaking the venue , it wont let up and Bogie driving the guys along and Rick having a Blast on the keys sliding out swathes of notes …. It’s like an unstoppable Blues Freight Train Hurtling at ya with Joe Cutting/Rippin’ Loose some extraordinary Guitar Wizardry
( Hendrix , Page , Stevie Ray Vaughan , Beck , Clapton  , would be smiling and Nodding at this)
It is outstanding Rock and a Tour de Force Finale … The show melts down after the creshendo

ONE OF THESE DAYS

Joe back with my Personal Favourite of this Tour … it just chugs ,Beautifully , stating get out my way cos I’m coming down the road no matter what ,… Slabs and layers of chunky blues guitar crash out from the stage and it just jumps and stomps all around you in Luxury style ( I just love it ) and then Joe finishes with some Serious fittingly beautiful Red Chandler Slide Guitar that carry’s you away …. Great Stuff

ASKING AROUND FOR YOU

A slow Blues number sung with heart and soul , Joe’s voice is in Commanding form , you listen intensely and then he plays the most delicate  beautiful solo at the end one Note holding for a minute to a stunned audience , some of the crowd are mesmerised by the softness of this , Rick plays subtle keys , and then Joe sings some lines accapella (no mic , at edge of stage ) ,, it is Quite Memorable in it Purity , and its over and the Band of  4 musicians Take their bows to a wild entertained audience

HIGHWATER EVERYWHERE

Is an Acoustic rendition about the floods of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans , Joe singing with heartfelt emotion ,and playing acoustic from the south style , stompin and singing with notes bouncing out of his fingers , and the percussion behind him pounding out that slow Louisiana Beat ….. Marvellous

A NEW DAY YESTERDAY

First time on this tour … an old re-working of the tune from sets of yester-year Joe , giving a slow bluesy twist , was great to see Joe playing this one again and seeing Carmine and Rick enjoying it too , Joe was Smiling and having a blast as this UK Tour was drawing to a close … Just flowing and Oozing Blues Class
The  solo burned away as they Drifted into

STARSHIP TROOPER

Which just Cascaded along as a sound that had it’s own curtain to bring down proceedings , the band were rocking the last moments of the tour and The Academy in Newcastle Witnessed one of the Finest Joe Bonamassa Shows outside of USA Ever … They were so Lucky …. They Finished took their bows to a Wild/Stunned Audience  ………. That was a Clear 10 out of 10     

ENJOY .....

( for pattyluvsjoe )

"ONE OF THESE DAYS" ............... ( Newcastle )           
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNiYiwLyrco
   (clip of audience going wild after "Woke up Dreaming" at Morecambe starts this)

"HIGHWATER EVERYWHERE  ....... ( Newcastle )           
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoSCh6SAfs4

"A NEW DAY YESTERDAY/STARSHIP TROPPER   ( Newcastle )
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOGlT_IoBwE

............................. Michael